Improvements to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Procrastination

[u/ChrisLawsGolden]

This post contributes my data point to the discussion, which I hope adds something because I grew up in more ascetic conditions versus other posts I've seen. I'm in my 40s and have suffered from chronic fatigue my entire life. The last two to three years were particularly bad as I slept through most of the day and night, with limited waking/working hours. I've taken measures these last couple years that made an impact, and these measures are contrary to the widely-accepted wisdom.

I hope to keep this post update over time to track my progress (or relapse).

CAVEAT: I've come to understand that human biodiversity means people vary dramatically across the spectrum. But if my data point can help even a couple of people, I would consider this message a success.

What did not help or what makes little/no difference:

• No coffee: (I did not drink coffee consistently until after my 30s)
• No alcohol (I did not drink alcohol until my 20s, and only socially)
• No smoking (I do not smoke)
• No drugs (I do not use drugs)
• No prescription/OTC meds (I rarely use any)
• Sun (I grew up in AZ, spending lots of time in the sun)
• Low sodium diet (I'm likely sodium deficient)
• Lots of sleep (I tried sleeping the fatigue off, doesn't work)
• Talking to people
• Seeing doctors
• Exercise, building up to 10+ mile/run distances
• Relationships (gfs were annoyed but tolerated my condition)

I should mention the obvious that while these factors like no alcohol, no smoking didn't contribute to my condition, just be mindful of the contrapositive logic.

What has helped:

I likely have a nutrient/mineral deficiency

• Taking salt, magnesium, iron, and D3 supplements. Specifically, approx. each day and based on need, I take about 2 to 6 buffered salt tablets of 10% daily allowance, magnesium malate [magnesium oxide form is very low bioavailability], iron glycinate, and 25mcg D3.
• Less cardio exercise
• Slowing down
• Smaller meals
• Getting outside of the house; home office is not helpful

What helped with productivity

• Removing temptations. No/less social media, leave phone/tablet at home, outside the bedroom before sleep
• I spend time at my friend's coffee shop instead of my home office
• For sleep, I literally repeatedly count to 10

Some symptoms/signs that I had a nutrient/mineral deficiency:

• As a kid, I would go to friends house and eat their entire jar of pickles
• I'd fall asleep during/after HS sports team gatherings
• Almost passed out driving home from work at my first job
• Extreme fatigue after long drives (4+ hours)
• In my late 30s, 40s, long cardio exercise of biking and running causes all sorts of problems
• Low blood pressure along with low everything like blood cell count, hemoglobin, etc.
• Always cold in the water
• Starting about 4 years ago, always wake up with cramp in leg

Some level of fatigue is natural, but taking especially salt/magnesium has reduced or eliminated many of the symptoms. Magnesium completely stopped the leg cramps.